Roses are red; violets are...well, violet — but why? “The Chemistry of Flower Color” explains howpigment molecules — carotenoids and anthocyanins — give flowers the colors we see. Also in this collection: news stories from the archives of NBC News and Scientific American on desert wild flowers, pollination, the cut-flower industry, and why flowers have scents; color plates of several floral families; and a flowery offering from Robert Louis Stevenson.

Roses are red; violets are...well, violet — but why? “The Chemistry of Flower Color” explains howpigment molecules — carotenoids and anthocyanins — give flowers the colors we see. Also in this collection: news stories from the archives of NBC News and Scientific American on desert wild flowers, pollination, the cut-flower industry, and why flowers have scents; color plates of several floral families; and a flowery offering from Robert Louis Stevenson.

This NBC Learn video explains the basic role of pigment molecules -- carotenoids and anthocyanins -- in producing what humans see as color in flowers, as the pigment molecules absorb visible light of various color wavelengths.

This NBC Learn video explains the basic role of pigment molecules -- carotenoids and anthocyanins -- in producing what humans see as color in flowers, as the pigment molecules absorb visible light of various color wavelengths.

Date : 02/04/2011

Clip Length : 3

This 2011 "Scientific American" article cites a survey in New Zealand linking sharply diminished populations of a particular flowering shrub to the extinction of several species of birds that were the shrubs' chief pollinators. Source: Scientific American, February 4, 2011

This 2011 "Scientific American" article cites a survey in New Zealand linking sharply diminished populations of a particular flowering shrub to the extinction of several species of birds that were the shrubs' chief pollinators. Source: Scientific American, February 4, 2011

Date : 01/01/2011

Clip Length : 1

Color pie chart showing percentage (by value) of fresh flowers in the U.S. imported from the top six flower-exporting countries: Colombia, Equador, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Mexico and Canada. Data Source: Society of American Florists, December 2010

Color pie chart showing percentage (by value) of fresh flowers in the U.S. imported from the top six flower-exporting countries: Colombia, Equador, Netherlands, Costa Rica, Mexico and Canada. Data Source: Society of American Florists, December 2010

Date : 01/01/2011

Clip Length : 1

Color pie chart showing percentage of fresh flowers in the U.S. coming from the top six fresh flower-producing states: California (75%), Washington, Oregon, New Jersey, Hawaii and Florida. Data Source: Society of American Florists, December 2010

Color pie chart showing percentage of fresh flowers in the U.S. coming from the top six fresh flower-producing states: California (75%), Washington, Oregon, New Jersey, Hawaii and Florida. Data Source: Society of American Florists, December 2010

Date : 07/13/2009

Clip Length : 3

This 2009 "Scientific American" article outlines the carbon dioxide emissions from hothouses, refrigeration and global transportation used by the international cut-flower industry, and reports on more eco-friendly initiatives and alternatives, including buying local field-grown flowers. Source: Scientific American, July 13, 2009

This 2009 "Scientific American" article outlines the carbon dioxide emissions from hothouses, refrigeration and global transportation used by the international cut-flower industry, and reports on more eco-friendly initiatives and alternatives, including buying local field-grown flowers. Source: Scientific American, July 13, 2009

Date : 04/18/2005

Clip Length : 1

This 2005 "Scientific American" article report explains why flowers produce a scent (to attract and signal its specific pollinators), and why no two floral scents are exactly the same (diversity of volatile compounds). Source: Scientific American, April 18, 2005

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